In Part 1 and Part 2 of Switching week we discussed ways to avoid mismatch switches - by adjusting initial matchups and Fly switching onto better defenders. However as any switching coach knows, there are going to be screens, and more likely, ball screens that result in not-so-great matchups for the defense. The Triple switch is a way to avoid the rolling post mismatch.
As the big rolls to the basket to solidify the mismatch with a low post touch, we can triple switch with either the weakside or strong side low man who might be a better post defender. This also allows us to switch our perimeter defender back onto the perimeter.
This is a great adjustment against offenses who see your switching as a means to hunt matchups. Now the defense can adjust during the action and prevent those matchup nightmares down low.
In order to execute this adjustment, your team needs a great deal of communication and general IQ and awareness. But you’d be surprised at how quickly most high school players can pick up this concept with film review and some practice time.
The downside to this tactic is the low post position you can still give up on the triple switch. We might avoid the poor matchup, but the switching player is usually coming from the back of the post player - so with it comes a pretty deep post position for the post player. If this continues to become an issue we will need to execute the technique quicker to jam early and/or jumping to a 3/4 denial or fronting position.
This should solve our rolling mismatch problem, however if the deep position continues to be an issue we can execute a Scram switch or go into a trapping option.
Meanwhile we still have a mismatch to solve: the original big is still on the ball handler. If the opponent is more set on attacking off the dribble than down low, we will need to put Part 4 in our toolbox. Check back tomorrow for Part 4.
See you next time.
Comments